Ping goes for Noynoy, urges Erap to drop presidential bid

Former President Joseph Estrada should drop his presidential bid if he really wants to unify the political opposition, Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Thursday. In the same breath, Lacson hinted support for the possible presidential candidacy of Sen. Benigo "Noynoy" Aquino III, who has chosen to undergo a spiritual retreat first before finally deciding on his plans for the 2010 polls. "If integrity is one of the standards, Senator Noynoy would definitely pass my book," Lacson told reporters. He added that he doesn't believe the only son of the late former President Corazon Aquino and slain Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. would abuse his power to enrich himself once he is in office. "Si Noynoy, isa lang masasabi ko, at least sigurado tayo di mangungurakot. Kung si Noynoy nga at siya palarin medyo more or less kampante tayo [na] di siya magnanakaw (With Noynoy, at least we are sure that he is not corrupt)," he said. Lacson made the statement even as Aquino has yet to announce his political plans for next year. Aquino on Wednesday said he would go on a "retreat" first before announcing if he would accept calls for him to run for president. Lacson however clarified that he is not categorically saying that Aquino has his all-out support. Asked on who would he support next year, he said, "Sa ngayon wala pa. Di natin alam kung sino magfa-file (No one, so far. I don't have an idea who will file for candidacy)."

Call on Erap Lacson meanwhile said Estrada should abandon his renewed quest for the presidency and instead initiate the unification move among the ranks of the opposition. "Ang influence niya di matatawaran. Kung siya mismo magsalita na magsama-sama tayo, aatras ako, mangunguna ako, kung puwedeng sundan ninyo ako, palagay ko mas lalakas ang [na] panawagan magkakaroon ng isang opposition candidate," he said. (His influence is unquestionable. If he will lead the unification move, then the opposition is likely to end up with just one standard bearer next year.) He added that as the leader of the opposition, it is only prudent for Estrada to take charge in unifying the group. “Kung ipiniprisinta mo ang sarili mo bilang leader, dapat mauna ka sa unification move (If you present yourself as the leader of the opposition, you should lead the unification move)," he said. Lacson was National Police chief during Estrada's short-lived presidency. When Estrada was vice president and head of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission (PACC), Lacson was chief of the controversial unit, Task Force Habagat. Don't lecture Erap But Estrada's camp did not take Lacson's advice lightly, saying the senator had no right to "lecture" the former president. "With all due respect, Senator Lacson has no right to lecture President Erap on uniting the opposition because he (Lacson) was the cause of disunity in the opposition in 2004," said Margaux Salcedo, Estrada's spokesperson. She was referring to Lacson's unsuccessful presidential bid in 2004 when he ran against actor Fernando Poe Jr., the candidate endorsed by Estrada. Poe placed second to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo while Lacson placed third. Lacson had also earlier expressed readiness to run for president but dropped his plan last June, citing lack of funds. He, however, said that he is open to run for vice president, adding that at least two presidential aspirants had already talked to him about it. Estrada meanwhile had expressed 99.99 percent readiness to seek re-election next year, noting that it is now impossible for the opposition to have a single presidential candidate. - with Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV